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The national picture showed boys were far more likely to be involved than girls, and 14-year-olds were the most common age group to be caught.

A spokesman for the NSPCC said: “Every child has the right to feel safe at school.

“Preventing harmful sexual behaviour through proper, up to date sex and relationships education is immeasurably better than excluding children after the harm has been done.

“By giving children the right information about sexuality, consent, risks and protection we teach them how to make healthy relationship decisions, how to treat others and how to know when something is not right.

“Social media, sexting, online porn and dating apps did not exist when sex education was introduced on the curriculum a generation ago.

“It must be dragged into the 21st century, it must be consistent, and it must be offered in every school as part of a broader PSHE curriculum.”

Schools across the country said students had been excluded for a range of issues, including sexual abuse, assault, bullying, graffiti and harassment, as well as lewd behaviour.

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A Department of Education spokesman said: “Sexual assault of any kind is an offence and must always be reported to the police. Schools should be safe places and we issue safeguarding guidance to protect pupils’ welfare.

“All primary schools will be required to teach Relationships Education and all secondary schools will have to teach Relationships and Sex Education in the future.

“We want to help all schools deliver these lessons so that young people are equipped to have healthy relationships and treat each other with respect.”